Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball

  • Traded to Oklahoma City
    Caruso was traded from the Bulls to the Thunder in exchange for Josh Giddey on Thursday, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.

    Advice: After spending the first four years of his career with the Lakers, Caruso played in Chicago over the past three seasons. He had a career-best year during the 2023-24 campaign, averaging 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.7 steals in 28.7 minutes per game while making 71 appearances. The 30-year-old will join a talented Thunder squad that finished last season as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, and he'll provide a solid shooting presence as long as he can remain healthy during the 2024-25 season. Caruso is entering the final year of his contract, but the Thunder hope to sign him to a long-term extension at some point, per Wojnarowski. Rotowire.com Today, 2:16 pm
     
  • Woj: Bulls to trade Alex Caruso to Oklahoma City
    According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Bulls are trading Alex Caruso to the Thunder in exchange for Josh Giddey.

    Advice: Caruso is reportedly on the move after spending the last three seasons in the Windy City. After injuries limited the veteran guard to 41 games during the 2021-22 campaign, he played 67 and 71 games the following two seasons. Caruso averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.0 blocks, and 1.9 3-pointers this past season in 28.7 minutes. Posting career-high averages in points, rebounds, steals (tied with 2021-22), blocks, and 3-pointers, Caruso provided 5th-round per-game value in 8- and 9-cat formats. He’s never been a high-usage player, and that attribute, combined with the defending and 3-point shooting, should make for a good fit next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Rotoworld Today, 2:14 pm
     
  • Frank Ntilikina signs to play in Serbia
    Frank Ntilikina has signed a two-year deal with Partizan Belgrade in Serbia.

    Advice: Ntilikina suited up in five games for the Hornets last season before he was waived at the trade deadline. Now, he’ll head to play in Serbia after seven seasons in the NBA. Fantasy managers won’t have to adjust their draft boards because of this move. Rotoworld Today, 8:49 am
     
  • Report: Gary Payton II to opt into player option
    According to ESPN’s Kendra Andrews, Gary Payton II will opt into his $9.1 million player option for the 2024-25 season.

    Advice: By opting in, GPII has the flexibility to sign an extension with the team this offseason according to Andrews. Payton II has played a key defensive role for Golden State in recent seasons, but he’s much better in real life than he is in the realm of fantasy hoops. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:14 am
     
  • Picks up player option
    Payton exercised his $9.1 million player option for the 2024-25 season Wednesday, Kendra Andrews of ESPN.com reports.

    Advice: By exercising his player option, Payton will be on the books for the upcoming season and will now be able to negotiate a possible contract extension with the Warriors. Payton has had some tough luck with injuries in recent seasons, but he's invaluable to the Warriors for his perimeter defense. In 44 regular-season appearances in 2023-24, Payton averaged 5.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.9 steals in 15.5 minutes per contest while shooting 56.3 percent from the field. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 9:11 am
     
  • Drains clutch 3 in Game 5 win
    Pritchard posted three points (1-1 FG, 1-1 3Pt) in under one minute of playing time during Monday's 106-88 win over Dallas in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

    Advice: As he did periodically during the regular season and postseason, Pritchard once again drained a half-court end-of-quarter three just when the Celtics needed a boost. In Game 5, he heaved a half-court triple with under four seconds to help Boston take a 21-point lead into halftime. It was a lead the Celtics would never relinquish as Boston earned its 18th banner. Pritchard hit three triples over five 2024 NBA Finals games. He has three years remaining on his current contract, so expect more off-the-bench heroics moving forward. Rotowire.com Tuesday, 7:05 am
     
  • Leads all scorers in Finals series
    Doncic ended Monday's 106-88 loss to the Celtics in Game 5 of the NBA Finals with 28 points (12-25 FG, 2-9 3Pt, 2-5 FT), 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals across 43 minutes.

    Advice: Despite losing the series 4-1, Doncic was spectacular for the Mavericks in the NBA Finals. The five-time All-Star dealt with a litany of injuries throughout the playoffs, including a thoracic contusion, a right knee sprain and left ankle soreness, but still led all players in scoring in the Finals. Across five NBA Finals games, Doncic averaged 29.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.6 steals while shooting 47.2 percent from the field. The 25-year-old did struggle from deep, shooting only 24.4 percent, and he was also seen as a defensive liability at times. However, Doncic and the Mavericks will look to build off their strong season and run it back next year, as he now has NBA Finals experience under his belt. Rotowire.com Monday, 9:58 pm
     
  • Shoots poorly in Game 5 loss
    Irving posted 15 points (5-16 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 2-2 FT), nine assists, three rebounds and one steal over 41 minutes during Monday's 106-88 loss to Boston in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

    Advice: Irving struggled to get going in the Game 5 loss to the Celtics after a strong performance in Game 4, when he put up 21 points, six assists and four rebounds on 55.6 percent shooting from the field. The eight-time All-Star averaged 19.8 points, 5.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 0.6 steals in five NBA Finals games while shooting 41.4 percent from the field. Irving has now been to four NBA Finals with a 1-3 record, and he will attempt to help lead Dallas back to the championship round next year with Luka Doncic by his side. Rotowire.com Monday, 9:56 pm
     
  • Efficient from deep in Game 5 win
    White amassed 14 points (4-10 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 2-2 FT), eight rebounds, two steals, one assist and one block over 38 minutes during Monday's 106-88 win over Dallas in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

    Advice: In his second NBA Finals appearance, White averaged 13.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks in five games. He also suffered a chipped tooth when White's head was stuck between the floor and a fallen Derek Lively. Shortly after cleaning his bloodied mouth, White drained a three. The elite defender was a crucial part of the Celtics' championship run, as he provided extreme value on both sides of the ball. In 19 playoff games this season, White averaged 16.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 blocks and 0.9 steals while shooting 45.2 percent from the field. Rotowire.com Monday, 9:17 pm